Frame



(No Model.)

S H. SOHUESSLER.

FRAME.

Patented May 2, 1893.

.lNVENTOf? WITNESSES.

A TTOHNEYS;

TNE Mourns PETERS c0 PHOYO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON nv c.

- with a looking-glass therein.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH SOHUESSLER, OF COLLEGE POINT, NEWV YORK.

FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 496,703, dated May 2, 1893.

Application filed August 26, 1892. Serial No. 444,219- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HEINRICH SoHUEssLEB, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, at present residing at College Point, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Frame, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved frame, which is simple and durable in construction, arranged to securely hold and lock a picture, looking-glass, cards or other articles in place in the frame, at the same time shielding the article from dust.

The invention consists of an open casing held on the back of the frame and adapted to receive the article, a spring plate fitting into the said casing and adapted to press the article on its entire back surface, and a locking device for fastening the said plate to the easmg.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the frame proper Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the spring pressed back plate; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device as arranged for containing cards, part of the frame being shown in section.

The improved device is provided with a frame proper A, made of suitable material and of any desired shape, the frame being provided in its front with the usual aperture through which appears the article supported or held in the frame. On the back of the frame A is arranged a flange B, which forms with the frame, a pocket or casing for the reception of the picture, mirror, cards or other article 0, to be supported within the frame.

In order to securely hold the article 0 in place I provide a curved spring back plate D,

adapted to engage the rear of the article, thethe said plate being provided at one end with a doubled up extension E, extending on the back of the plate andat an angle thereto, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. The extension E reaches to about or a short distance beyond the middle of the back plate D and is provided with bearings F, engaged by the lugs or trunnions G, formed on a handle H, preferably made U -shaped so as to form a stand or hanger for supporting the frame either in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, or by hanging the frame up as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The lugs or trunnions G are adapted to engage eyes I, formed or secured on the flange B at or near the middle of the frame, it being understood that the said eyes register with the bearings F so that the trunnions G, after passing through the bearings from the inside, can readily engage and pass into the eyes I so as to lock the spring back plate D in place on the frame. Vhen using the arm H as a stand, as illustrated in Fig. 2, each bearing F is provided with a projection F, adapted to engage the upper end of'the arm H so as to hold the latter in the'incliiied position, shown in Fig. 2.

In line with the bearings F is arranged a bar J, which extends with its ends to within a short distance of the said bearings so that in closing the arm H to withdraw the trunnions G, the ends of the arm l-I strike against the ends of the bar J so as to prevent disengagement of the trunnions G from the bearings, at the same time, however, permitting disengagement of the said trunnions from the said eyes I. This bar J also permits of swinging the arm H into an uppermost position when using the arm as a hanger for supporting the frame from a nail or other device on a wall.

In order to assemble the several parts, I first place, the article or articles 0 into the frame A at the back thereof, so that the edges of the articles abut on the inner surface of the flange tension E so that the plate D assumes astraight position on the article, and by its springy nature exerts pressure on the article to securely hold the latter in place on the back of the frame, it being understood that the extension E is locked in place by the trunnions G engaging the eyes I. When pressing down on the extension E, the operator draws the sides of the arm H together to permit the withdrawn ends of the trunnions G to register with the eyes I at the inside thereof, and when this has taken place, the operator releases the pressure on the ends of the arm H so that the springy nature of the latter forces the trunnions outward and into engagement with the eyes I.

I do not limit myself to the particular shape of the frame A or the material the latter is made of, as it is evident that the spring back plate can be readily applied on all shapes and forms of frames. I prefer, however, to

make the spring back plate D of a slightly tempered sheet metal, and the arm H of steel wire.

It will be seen that this spring back plate covers the entire surface of the article held within the frame or casing, so as to make it dust-proof, at the same time preventing shifting or displacement of the article within the frame.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I 1. A frame provided on its back with an open casing adapted to receive the article, a spring plate fitted into the said casing and curved lengthwise from end to end and a pressing and locking device held on the said casing and engaging the said spring plate to press the latter flat onto the surface of the article and to lock it thereon, substantially as shown and described.

2. A frame provided with a spring plate curved longitudinally from end to end and an extension formed integrally with said plate and extending at angles from one end thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. A frame provided on its back with a flange to form a casing for the reception of the article in combination with a spring back plate fitted into the said casing and curved lengthwise from end to end, an extension formed integrally with the said back plate and extending at angles from one end thereof, and a pressing and locking device for pressing the said back plate flat onto the article and locking the extension to the said frame, sub

stantially as shown and described. I

4. A frame provided on its back wlth a flange to form a casing for the reception of the article, in combination with a curved spring back plate adapted to engage the article in the frame, an extension formed on one end ofvthe said back plate, a locking devlce for fastening the said extension to the said flange, the said locking device comprlsing an arm provided on its ends with trunnions, bearings formed on the extension and engaged by the said trunnions, and eyes formed on the said flange and adapted to be engaged by the said trunnions, substantially as shown and described.

5. A frame provided on its back with a flange to form a casing for the receptlon of the article, in combination with a curved spring back plate adapted to engage the article in the frame, an extension formed on one end of the said back plate, a locking device for fastening the said extension to the said flange, the said locking device comprising an arm provided on its ends with trunnions, bearings formed on the extension and engaged by the said trunnions, eyes formed on the sa d flange and adapted to be engaged by the said trunnions, and lugs formed on the said bearings to engage the ends of the said arm, substantially as shown and described.

6. A frame provided on its back with a flange to form a casing for the reception of the article, in combination with a curved spring back plate adapted to engage the article in the frame, an extension formed on one end of the said back plate, a locking device for fastening the said extension to the said flange, the said locking device comprising an arm provided on its ends with trunnions, bearings formed on the extension and engaged by the said trunnions, eyes formed on the said flange and adapted to be engaged by the said trunnions, and a bar arranged transversely on the said extension between the said bear- I ings, substantially as shown and described.

HEINRICH SCI-IUESSLER. Witnesses:

THEo. G. I-IosTER, E. M. CLARK. 

